ASBOs banning two problem drinkers from Walthamstow town centre have been cautiously welcomed by community figures as there is uncertainty at how effective they will be.

Earlier this week police announced they had secured Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) preventing Neal Stacey, 46, and Timothy Stanbridge, 36, from entering the area until April 2015 after they were linked with multiple crimes and cases of anti-social behaviour.

Police say Walthamstow High Street and its adjacent town square has been blighted in recent years by a group of 13 men who regularly fight, abuse passers-by and vandalise businesses, with Stacey and Stanbridge said to be among the worst offenders.

Those living and working in the area have said they are pleased the Met is attempting to tackle the problem but also raised doubts about how well the ASBOs would be enforced.

Waltham Forest Council introduced an 'alcohol restriction zone' banning the consumption of booze in Walthamstow town centre in November 2008 but it has been regularly ignored.

Muhammad Nadeem, of the Walthamstow Market Traders Association, said: "You get these men drinking in the town square and the police come along to clear them away, but then after two hours they just come back again.

"It is a big problem. They steal fruit from the market stalls, urinate and fight. Some of them are on drugs so you can't reason with them.

"It is good the police are trying to do something but we will have to see if it works."

Caramel Quin, chair of the of the Cleveland Park Avenue Residents' Association, said problems with drinkers had got worse in recent years.

She said: "It has started to affect our lives. My neighbour's children used to play football in the street but don't anymore because of the people hanging around.

"It's a lovely area to live in but these people have started making us feel unsafe and uncomfortable.

"The area is supposed to be an alcohol restriction zone. So sometimes measures like ASBOs are necessary but question is how well will they be enforced?

"The drinkers also need greater support to help address their problems."

The drinkers in the area have been cited by Waltham Forest Council as the reason why a soup kitchen for the homeless in nearby Mission Grove car park should be evicted from Walthamstow.

Both Mr Nadeem and Ms Quin said they had no doubt that the drinkers used the soup kitchen but were unsure if removing the facility would stop them from being anti-social in the area.

Christian Kitchen, which has provided free hot meals at the site for the last 20 years, denies it is responsible for crime in the area.

Stacey, of Flaxen Road in Chingford, is banned from an area of Walthamstow bounded by and including Forest Road, Hoe Street, Queen’s Road, Markhouse Road, St James Street and Blackhorse Road.

He is also banned from meeting the other 12 men and cannot have alcohol inside the borough.

Stanbridge, of Humberstone Road in Plaistow, has been completely banned from Waltham Forest.